Residential Services

Disposers

Many of American Star Plumbing's plumbing service calls involve garbage disposers. They may be one of the most misused appliances in any home. Few people realize that garbage disposers are only designed to handle light food residue that is rinsed from plates and cooking utensils before they go into the dishwasher.

Large quantities of food and debris going into disposers can overwhelm them and clog the kitchen sink drain. Few things are more frustrating than a kitchen sink that won't drain but American Star Plumbing will repair or replace broken disposers and get your sink back to normal in no time.

Problem:
Garbage disposer hums but won't operate properly.

Solution:
Press the reset button located on the bottom of the disposer. If this doesn't work, turn off the power switch and shine a flashlight into the drain. Look for a foreign object such as a coin, plastic bread tie or staple. Remove the item with pliers or a grasping tool. It is dangerous to put your hand inside a disposer. Your disposer may have a hex key jam clearing tool. Look for it under the sink or taped to the disposer. Check for a slot at the bottom of the disposer where the tool can be inserted and turned back and forth to clear the jam.

Fact:
Thanksgiving Day is the most common day of the year for garbage disposers to jam and for kitchen sinks to clog. Big meal preparation and a busy kitchen are to blame.